Three members of Kuwait's parliament have submitted a request to question the prime minister about an incident last week in which police broke up an opposition gathering, wounding several people.

Kuwait's parliament has triggered numerous cabinet resignations or reshuffles through questioning and no-confidence motions, which have also resulted in delays to economic reforms.

On Wednesday, several people, including lawmakers, were hurt when Kuwaiti police intervened to disperse an opposition gathering. Footage carried by Al Jazeera television showed riot police using batons to push back a group of opposition members.

The three lawmakers, Jamaan al-Harbash, Saleh al-Mulla and Musallam al-Barrak, want to question Sheikh Nasser al-Mohammad al-Sabah about possible violations of Kuwait's constitution and public freedoms in connection with the incident.

The lawmakers represent the Development and Reform Bloc, an Islamist group, the liberal National Action Bloc and the opposition Popular Action bloc.

Political parties are banned in Kuwait, so parliament is made up of individuals who form loose blocs.

Barrak, one of the three MPs, told reporters on Monday that there was broader support for questioning the prime minister than in previous instances, with three parliamentary blocs and a large number of independent lawmakers backing the move.

The questioning would take place during the December 28 session of the assembly, Parliament Speaker Jassem al-Kharafi told state news agency KUNA, if the prime minister agrees to it.

Last year, Sheikh Nasser, a senior member of the ruling family and a nephew of the ruler, agreed to be questioned by parliament, which was a first for a head of government in the Gulf state. He survived the questioning.

The country's ruler, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, and his predecessors have in the past reshuffled governments or dissolved parliament after lawmakers made similar requests that could pave the way for votes of confidence.

Frequent government reshuffles, resignations and parliament dissolutions have delayed economic reform bills, including the creation of a markets watchdog. The cabinet had to pass a $5 billion stimulus package as a by-law last year while parliament was dissolved.-Reuters